I wake up sitting on the edge of the bed, blinking against the morning light. When I turn my head, there he is—Jason—passed out in the most awkward position possible. His leg is draped over mine, and his arm is resting on my thigh.
Then, slowly, his hand slides down and wraps around my ankle. My heart races, but I immediately shove his hand away, pushing harder this time. He doesn't move.
Fucking devil.
How the hell do I wake him without hurting him—or annoying him so much he never sleeps again?
"Jason! Wake up!! Thief! Thief!" I yell.
His eyes snap open like a zombie's, wild and unfocused. He sits up fast, searching the room. "Thief? Thief? W-where?" he stammers, clearly disoriented.
"You bitch, I was in the middle of a peaceful siesta before you howled at me," he grumbles, glaring at me.
I can't help it—I burst out laughing.
"You'll never let me sleep peacefully," he says with a smile.
"You snore loudly!" I fire back, smirking.
"Well, you were cuddling my legs, so I had to retaliate!" I tease.
He chuckles softly. "Hey, you were hugging me to death in your sleep."
I flush bright red. "You're lying!"
"Nope. You definitely were."
"Show me the evidence," I challenge, shaking my head.
He stretches his arms overhead and stands, his shirt riding up just enough for me to catch a glimpse of the waistband of his Burberry boxers. Damn. I swallow hard.
He pulls his shirt over his head in one smooth move, revealing the sculpted lines of his chest and abs.
Behold, the ruler of the Greek pantheon.
Suddenly, he waves a hand in front of my face. "Earth, Marie. I must have zoned out," he jokes.
Honestly, I was too busy staring at his perfect body to hear a thing.
"So, ready for today? Your first day as a college student?" he asks.
I nod, dragging my feet toward the bathroom to take a quick shower. Wrapped in a towel after, I suddenly remember, "Shit—I forgot to make my bed." I swing open the door and almost collide with Jason's broad chest.
"Sorry," I mumble, looking up.
He smiles softly. "It's fine."
He scans me up and down, then stammers, "I… I… need to go!"
What the hell is wrong with him?
I shrug it off and change into a cropped yellow sweater and ripped black jeans that hug my high waist. My excitement bubbles over—I can't wait to start college. After a light sweep of mascara and gloss, I check myself in the mirror. Flawless.
White Nikes on, backpack slung over my shoulder, I head to the kitchen where Jason surprises me.
"I made you coffee," he says, holding out a steaming mug.
"Thanks," I grin, taking a sip.
"You look so happy today."
"I am! Just a little nervous," I admit.
"What time's your first class?"
"9:30."
"Why are you dressed up?"
"Because I'm taking you to school," he says.
I nearly spit out my coffee. "The fuck?"
He just chuckles.
"Wait here, I'll be right back," he adds.
I wait in the living room, and soon he's back. "Alright, let's go," he says, his voice low and serious.
I can't help staring. His hair is a messy masterpiece, his whole presence impossible to ignore. I gulp.
"You know, I could have driven myself, right?"
"I just want to make sure you get there safely."
Ten minutes into the drive, I finally ask, "Why were you so drunk last night?"
"Huh?" He blinks, then refocuses on the road.
I push the thought of how hot he looks out of my head. "I said, why did you drink so much?"
He shrugs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't."
"Seriously?"
He sighs, then admits, "Yeah, I was drunk. It won't happen again."
"You won't get drunk again?"
"Guess not."
I step out of his car when we arrive, waving goodbye and heading toward my first anatomy and physiology class—actually looking forward to it.
Just as I step inside, I bump into someone.
"Oh! I'm so sorry," she says.
"It's okay," I smile.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"I'm Jen, by the way. You?"
"Marie."
"What class do you have?"
"Anatomy and physiology."
"Me too!" she beams.
At least I know someone in there. Talking to Jen is easy, and she's hilarious. I already feel like this semester is going to be better than I expected.
_______
Jen and I find a spot in the middle of the lecture hall, right next to each other. The seats are hard, but it's better than sitting alone. I glance over at her—she's already pulled out a notebook and looks genuinely excited.
"First day jitters?" I ask, trying to keep my voice light.
She laughs, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. "Yeah, a little. But honestly, I'm just glad I'm not the only one who's nervous."
Her smile is contagious, and suddenly the whole huge college feels a little less intimidating.
The professor starts talking about the human body, and I'm amazed at how much there is to learn. Jen's taking notes furiously, and I try to keep up. Somehow, the complicated names and diagrams don't seem so scary with her next to me.
Between classes, we grab coffee at the campus café. I'm telling her about the weird way Jason's been acting—drunk, distant, and then all protective and awkward this morning.
Jen listens without judging. "Sounds complicated. But you seem like you really care about him."
I bite my lip. "I don't know. He's my roommate, but sometimes I feel like he's this impossible puzzle."
Jen shrugs, sipping her latte. "Maybe he's just as lost as you are. People show their real sides in unexpected ways."
That hits me harder than I want to admit.
By the time the afternoon rolls around, I'm exhausted but excited. Jen invites me to a study group she's part of. "It's mostly just a few people from our class. You should come," she says.
I hesitate, then nod. "Yeah, I'd like that."
Back at the apartment later that evening, the place feels emptier without Jason. I check my phone—no messages. The silence presses in.
I pull out my notes from class, trying to focus, but my mind drifts back to the way Jason looked this morning—so vulnerable and out of place. Why can't I stop thinking about him?
Suddenly, my phone buzzes. A message from Jason:
"Hope your first day went okay. Let me know if you need anything."
I stare at the screen, heart pounding. Maybe… maybe things are starting to change.